The good news is: Everyone can wear Leggings, Jeggings & Stretch-Jeans. But there is a right and a wrong way to wear them for every person.
Here’s the guidelines so you will always look great, feel comfortable and never be caught in an embarrassing moment:
Bum Coverage vs Non-Bum-Coverage
To begin, there is less than five percent of the population of women who can pull off wearing leggings (jeggings & stretch-jeans – from here I’ll refer to all 3 as just leggings) without covering their bottom. So even if you have an amazing body, don’t assume that you are one of these people. Here’s the road test to check:
- Put on any pair of leggings and stand with your bottom towards the mirror and observe.
- Next, firmly clench your butt cheeks tightly.
- The third check to make is to jump up and down, watching your backside in the mirror.
- The final check to make is to bend over in your leggings.
If the view your your stationary butt cheeks, clenched cheeks, jiggling cheeks, or bent over cheeks are not up to your standard (if there is any doubt get a second opinion from someone you trust to tell you the truth) then you should restrict wearing leggings with a covered bum.
Top Stylist Tip: The above Butt Tests should also be performed for any and all trousers, shorts, skirts, dresses, and swimwear that you wear, so you know that you will not be embarrassed by what your bottom looks like when is moving about throughout the day. (How To Avoid Wardrobe Malfunctions)
And…
Top Stylist Tip 2: Always do the bend-over butt test EVERY TIME you put on a pair of leggings as the fabric often thins and can expose you (How To Avoid Wardrobe Malfunctions)
Un-Covered Bums
If you are in the ‘Un-Covered Bum’ group, you can wear leggings both covered and uncovered. But, (no pun intended) you’ll want to periodically do the Butt Tests so you will know if your group status changes. Also, the Tips below will help you put together the best legging looks for you.
Covered Bums
If you belong to the ‘Cover the Bum’ group, then the next step is to know how much coverage you look your best in. Coverage zones are from just below the butt cheeks (note that bending over with this length will expose the bottom) to just below the knee length for most women.
What’s your shortest and optimum length(s) for both groups? (How To Figure out what basic Looks work for your body shape so you always look great – coming soon). Here’s how to tell:
Done a pair of leggings and then try on different items of clothing from long shirts that go down to just past the bottom cheeks to dresses that go down past the knee (you can hike up dresses or skirts with a belt to alter the length). Look at yourself from all angles (don’t forget the back!) There will be a shortest length that you can go with that will stand out to look right (get a second opinion if you need to).
Now do the bend-over test with the shortest length(s) you’ve chosen, just to make sure it doesn’t need to be ruled out as an option or that you know you’ll have to squat if you want to pick anything off the ground.
Next see what other lengths look pleasant as well with your body shape. By comparing these lengths all at once, you will find one to several lengths that work and look good on your figure.
Getting your legging look just right:
Now that you’ve figured out the bottom coverage requirements, now it is time to TWEAK (Secrets on How To make your outfits look their very best on you – coming soon).
Adjust the leg length of your leggings by pushing and bunching them up from your ankle up to just below your knees. Pair the different lengths with different shoes – mid calf to under the knee for sneakers and canvas shoes, to the ankle with boots and a variety of lengths with various sandals and heels tend to look best. Now you can see which lengths work for your body shape which you can combo with your foot wear. Then combo the changing of the legging lengths with your optimum bottom coverage lengths of your long shirts or dresses, and you will be able to great looks that look their best on you.
Also…
If you’d like the Simplest Guide to Dressing 10 lbs Lighter (coming soon) and How to dress like a Millionaire on any budget (coming soon), just click. Happy Dressing 😀
© Make Life Exceptional 2016. Not to be reproduced without permission.
